Welcome to the ATRA website.

There are many features to this site which we hope will help both members and non-members gain the most from your visit.

Conference Dates: The dates for the annual conference next year are October 2-6, 2009. The meeting will be held at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis. Rooms must be reserved before September 9. The room rate is $129 (Single/Double) and the number to call for reservations is 612-370-1234. Download the Call for Papers for the 2009 ATRA Annual Conference.

The dates for the Mid Year Conference will be March 22 - 24, 2009.

ATRA Board of Directors 2008-09. Click here for a list of the new Board.

MAILING LISTS NEWS. All mailing lists have now been transferred from the atra-tr.org site to the atra-online.com site. If you have any problems with any mailing list you were a member of or want to participate in, please log into the member's area and go to the mail lists page.

Fall 2008 Newsletter.
The Fall newsletter is now available in the Members Only area of this site. You will need to login to view the newsletter. The login form is on the right menu.

Members can obtain login and password information by sending an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Please include your name, membership number and address.

Upcoming Events:

ATRA Mid-Year Professional Issues Forum
March 22-24, 2009
Washington, DC Area

TREC II - Therapeutic Recreation Education Conference
Sponsored jointly by ATRA and NTRS
June 19-20, 2009
Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
Click here for recap of TREC I

ATRA Annual Conference
October 2-5, 2009
Minneapolis, MN

Mission Statement. The mission of the American Therapeutic Recreation Association is to serve as a member driven association that collectively supports the recreational therapy profession.

Vision Statement. The vision of the American Therapeutic Recreation Association is to be the premiere professional membership association representing recreational therapists, consumers and stakeholders.

Definition Statement. Therapeutic Recreation is the provision of Treatment Services and the provision of Recreation Services to persons with illnesses or disabling conditions. The primary purposes of Treatment Services, which are often referred to as Recreational Therapy, are to restore, remediate or rehabilitate in order to improve functioning and independence as well as reduce or eliminate the effects of illness or disability. The primary purposes of Recreational Services are to provide recreation resources and opportunities in order to improve health and well-being. Therapeutic Recreation is provided by professionals who are trained and certified, registered and/or licensed to provide Therapeutic Recreation.

About ATRA. The American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) is the largest, national membership organization representing the interests and need of recreational therapists. Recreational therapists are health care providers using recreational therapy interventions for improved functioning of individuals with illness or disabling conditions. ATRA, was incorporated in the District of Columbia in 1984 as a non-profit, grassroots organization in response to growing concern about the dramatic changes in the health care industry. As a result of this response, ATRA has grown from a membership of 60 individuals in June 1984 to 4,500 in 1999.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 1996 there were approximately 38,000 recreational therapists. "Employment of recreational therapists is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2006 because of anticipated expansion in long term care, physical and psychiatric rehabilitation and services for people with disabilities" (Occupational Outlook Handbook, 1998).

ATRA defines therapeutic recreation as "the provision of Treatment Services and the provision of Recreation Services to persons with illnesses or disabling conditions. The primary purposes of Treatment Services, which are often referred to as Recreational Therapy, are to restore, remediate or rehabilitate in order to improve functioning and independence as well as reduce or eliminate the effects of illness or disability. The primary purposes of Recreational Services are to provide recreation resources and opportunities in order to improve health and well being. Therapeutic recreation is provided by professionals who are trained and certified, registered and/or licensed to provide therapeutic recreation (1987)."

For additional information regarding the American Therapeutic Recreation Association contact us at our national office:

ATRA 207 3rd Avenue
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
Tel: 601-450-2872 Fax: 601-582-3354